Kim Jong-un Personally Breaks Ground on Pyongyang General Hospital Construction... Denies 'Escape to Donghae' Due to COVID-19 Fear (Comprehensive)

"We Must Strive for the People's Health and Civilized Life" Emphasized
75th Anniversary of Party Founding and Public Sentiment Worsened by COVID-19, Focus on Livelihood
Through Mass Speech, Denied 'Fleeing to Donghae Due to Fear of COVID-19' Rumor

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the Pyongyang General Hospital on the 17th, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 18th.

Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the Pyongyang General Hospital and personally broke ground, embarking on a livelihood-focused initiative.

On the 18th, North Korea's state media, the Korean Central News Agency, reported, "The groundbreaking ceremony for the Pyongyang General Hospital was held on March 17," and "Comrade Kim Jong Un attended the groundbreaking ceremony."

In an unusual groundbreaking speech, Chairman Kim said, "There is nothing more joyful and empowering for our Party than seeing our people and future generations freely receive the most advanced medical services under the benefits of socialist healthcare, living free from illness and enjoying a civilized life."

He explained the background of the groundbreaking directly, saying, "At the year-end plenary meeting, we conducted a comprehensive and scientific frank analysis and evaluation of the current state of the country's health and medical sectors, and painfully criticized the lack of fully equipped modern medical and healthcare facilities even in the capital of our country. This year, marking the 75th anniversary of the Party's founding, we discussed and decided on the task of first constructing a modern general hospital in Pyongyang to improve the health of the people."

Chairman Kim also set the completion target as October 10, the Party's founding day, stating, "Although it was not originally planned, I participated in this event to vigorously encourage the comrades who are breaking the first ground of construction."

He emphasized, "There are now only about 200 days left until the Party's founding anniversary. No matter what happens, we must complete the construction of the Pyongyang General Hospital excellently as soon as possible so that the hospital can welcome our people."

Chairman Kim said, "The Pyongyang General Hospital will become a stage that demonstrates the spirit of our country, which powerfully advances toward a better tomorrow by laughing off the dirty sanctions and blockades of hostile forces, and the unyielding situation of our revolution," encouraging internal unity in the face of external circumstances.

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the Pyongyang General Hospital on the 17th, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 18th.

After his speech, Chairman Kim not only broke the first ground but also pressed the blasting button. This is interpreted as expressing his determination to urgently improve the poor medical infrastructure amid prolonged sanctions and full-scale response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), while highlighting his special care for public sentiment.

Photos released by the Rodong Sinmun on the day show a large crowd wearing masks and safety helmets forming ranks to attend the groundbreaking ceremony. However, officials including Chairman Kim did not wear masks.

Attendees at the groundbreaking ceremony included Party Vice Chairman Pak Pong Ju, Premier Kim Jae Ryong, and Party Vice Chairmen Ri Il Hwan and Pak Tae Song.

Meanwhile, through this attendance at the Pyongyang General Hospital groundbreaking ceremony, it was confirmed that Chairman Kim's itinerary has shifted from the East Coast to Pyongyang.

Since the end of February, Chairman Kim had been conducting on-site guidance for projectile tests on the East Coast. There had been speculation that he had 'evacuated' to the East Coast, leaving the densely populated Pyongyang during the spread of COVID-19.

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the Pyongyang General Hospital on the 17th and delivered a speech, according to the Rodong Sinmun on the 18th. The Rodong Sinmun reported that Chairman Kim Jong Un also took the first shovel of soil and pressed the blasting button at the groundbreaking event.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.